By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012
     According to the Construction Safety Council, a non-profit organization based out of Hillside, construction represents the largest single purpose industry in the U.S., representing nearly six percent of the workforce. But it’s also the industry with the highest number of occupational fatalities, accounting for 20 percent of the total work related deaths.
     That’s why the Council offers the 145 hour construction safety administrator certificate course, from Dec. 1 to March 15 at their headquarters in Hillside.
     The course has a maximum of 25 people, and has been put on for a decade. A variety of clients attend the class, including contractors, people in the insurance industry, and those that just want to brush up on safety.
     “People who have been hurt on the job, or who have seen people get hurt, they come in and they’re very dedicated and enthusiastic, because they have a cause,” said Beverlee Alberico, business manager for the Construction Safety Council. “We also have recent college graduates come in and get a feel for the industry, employers who send employees, and people who have been in the industry for 25 years and just feel they want to switch roles into more of a safety supervisor.”
     She said the course is great for networking and industry contacts as well.
     “People bond over the length of the course, and people get together after class. They also get the contact info of all the instructors who come in,” said Alberico.
     The class has outside experts come in to consult on a wide variety of topics, including scaffold use, first aid, crane safety, construction record keeping, fall protection, steel erection, concrete placement and fire protection and control. Class members will also take field trips to job sites and manufacturing facilities.
     “It’s just a great, worthwhile course that attracts a variety of people. You get so many different perspectives, it’s really interesting,” said Alberico. “People often wait to register until the last minute, but we limit the class to 25, so register early.”
     The 145 hour construction safety administrator certificate course costs $2,325. For further information, visit www.buildsafe.org.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.